[DVBC] DVBC Rides

[Adam Levine]

I agree with Len that the ride classifications are confusing at best, and 
that posting an average rolling speed (and the key: sticking to that speed!) 
would be a much better indication of what to expect during a ride.

One of the reasons the current ride classification is confusing is because 
it leaves out whole ranges of speeds. I'm posting the classifications below 
(straight from the web site) to make my point:

DISTANCE DESCRIPTION

D 7 to 9
? 9 to 10?
C 10 to 11
? 11 to 12 ?
C+ 12 to 13
? 13 to 14 ?
B- 14 to 15
? 15 to 16 ?
B+ 16 to 18
? 18 to 19 ?
A 19+

I'm not suggesting that we come up with even more letters to cover the 
speeds missed by this list, but showing this to reiterate Len's point that 
perhaps we should just go to an average speed in the ride list. The ride 
leader can still call the ride any letter they want, but this way those of 
us who know how fast we're able to ride (and I think that's most of us) will 
know what to expect.

Besides being clear about the rolling speed (and in the ride list, not 
suddenly springing it on unsuspecting riders at the start of the ride) and 
they also need to be clear about the rule that if you get ahead of the ride 
leader you're on your own ride. The only ride I led this year (Wednesday 
night C from Rose tree) was a disaster in part because I wasn't clear about 
this and, trying to be the nice guy, encouraged faster riders to go ahead 
and wait and at the same time tried to drop back to the end of the line and 
encourage the slower riders. My intentions were good, but the fast ones 
didn't wait, the slower ones (who were actually riding at the C pace) got 
father and farther behind, the ride split into three parts and I didn't see 
everyone until we got back to Rose tree. This is not only annoying, it is 
worrisome to ride leaders who feel any responsibility for the well-being of 
people on their rides.

ADAM

----Original Message Follows----
From: "Len Zanetich" <freewheelinguy at verizon.net>
Reply-To: dvbc-list at dvbc.org
To: <dvbc-list at dvbc.org>
Subject: RE: [DVBC] DVBC Rides
Date: Wed, 25 Jul 2007 08:03:26 -0400


I think the letter for the classification is meaningless.  I list rides on
several bike clubs and each has it's opinion of the what the pace should be
for each letter, therefore I always give the moving average pace.  This way
no matter what the terrain is you'll know what is expected on each ride.
And I do adhere to it.  One major thing I have learned by being a ride
leader is you never let the faster riders dictate the pace.  If riders are
feeling like rabbits, just let them, but inform riders before the ride that
if they go ahead they are not on the ride anymore.  I key my rides on the
slowest rider.  I have the luxury of having Bonnie as a co-ride leader, so
one of us can stay with the slowest, if needed, and the other can keep the
rest of the group at the listed pace. I have also incorporated breakaways
when applicable to give faster riders or riders feeling frisky to go as fast
as they want for a predetermined distance and then wait for the group to
catch up. Bonnie and I ride with the Tri-County Cyclists where I have stolen
this concept.  We ride their B rides (18mph moving average), but there are
many A riders in attendance.  There are no bike Nazis on their rides. Their
breakaways are typically a couple of miles or more and the fastest are
moving at 26+mph.  This same principle applies to the other classifications.

Before you can lead a ride on the White Clay Bike Club you must attend a
ride leader class.  These are held as needed.

I want to give kudos to Clarence and Valerie for their great posts and Ira
for stepping up and volunteering to help potential ride leaders.

Happy cycling,
Len

--
Internal Virus Database is out-of-date.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.5.446 / Virus Database: 269.10.2/890 - Release Date: 7/7/2007
3:26 PM



_______________________________________________
DVBC mailing list
DVBC at list.dvbc.org
http://list.dvbc.org/mailman/listinfo/dvbc-list

_________________________________________________________________
http://newlivehotmail.com